In this week's episode we bring in The Local's Denmark editor, Michael Barrett, to talk about why Denmark is liberating its work permit rules at the same time as Sweden is tightening up. And we assess Sweden’s big political experiment: a centre-right government backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats. Three years on, how has it been working?

Host Richard Orange is joined this week by The Local's publisher James Savage and Denmark editor Michael Barrett.

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Denmark to ease work permit rules for 16 non-EU countries
• Sweden raises work permit salary threshold to almost 30,000 kronor

• Can Kristersson convince voters to give him another term?

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

• For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+
• For new members: Get Membership+ 
• Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode of Sweden in Focus Extra for Membership+ subscribers features an interview with Hanna Geurtsen, the Migration Agency official responsible for overseeing a new list of jobs which could be exempted from a future salary threshold for work permits. She tells us how and why the list was put together, what it consists of, and what practical impact, if any, it is likely to have.

Membership+ subscribers can listen to the interview in the latest episode of Sweden in Focus Extra.

Read also:

• Swedish Migration Agency rates just two jobs as 'high risk' for work permits
• REVEALED: The 152 jobs that could be excused minimum salary for a Swedish work permit

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we talk about 'cloudburst-like rain' and what to do if your house is flooded, we talk about why Swedes tend to stay home in the summer, and we talk about what it's like to have a baby in Sweden.

How can you protect your Swedish home against downpours?

'On a sunny day, it can't be beat': The best things about spending summer in Sweden

How to use Swedish parental leave to spend four months with your baby back home

What you need to know about giving birth in Sweden

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

• For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+
• For new members: Get Membership+ 

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s time again to learn some Swedish as our panelists try their hand at the tricky vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam. 

Host Paul O’Mahony in Stockholm is joined this week from Malmö by The Local's Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

READ ALSO:

• SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? 
• What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden 
• The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through 

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we talk about revelations that the son of Johan Forssell, Sweden's migration minister, has been active in far-right extremist groups and how the scandal is affecting the government. 

We also discuss what's behind a recent spate of redundancies in Sweden's games sector, an industry that employs a disproportionately high number of foreign workers. 

• Swedish minister vows to stay on despite son's links to white supremacist groups
• INTERVIEW: Probe into minister's relative has revealed 'threat to Swedish security'

• 'Awesome people get pushed away': What's happening in the Swedish gaming industry?
• The seven bizarre traditions that make up Swedish Midsummer

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

• For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+
• For new members: Get Membership+ 

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we once again bring you a Swedish language quiz as The Local's journalists answer multiple choice questions from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the quiz by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

READ ALSO:

• SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden's version of the SAT? 
• What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden 
• The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through 

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode we bring you a language quiz in which we put The Local’s journalists through their paces with questions from the vocabulary section of Högskoleprovet, the Swedish university entrance exam.

Host Paul O’Mahony is joined for the quiz by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange.

READ ALSO:

• SWEDISH TEST: Can you pass the vocab part of Sweden’s version of the SAT? 
• What you need to know about applying to university in Sweden 
• The seven stages of learning Swedish every foreigner goes through

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode we talk about the bridge between Denmark and Sweden and how it means a lot more to one of our panelists than the sore feet she got after running across it. 

We also discuss what foreigners do to fit in in Sweden and why some people push back against assimilation.

Host Paul O'Mahony is joined this week by regular panelists Becky Waterton and Richard Orange. 

Here are links to some of the topics discussed in the episode:

• Why the Bridge Run between Sweden and Denmark meant so much to me

• 'Sometimes I explode inside': How foreigners in Sweden become more Swedish to fit in
• Ten signs you're becoming more Swedish than the Swedes

Sign up now and get early, ad-free access to a full-length episode of the Sweden in Focus podcast every weekend, as well as Sweden in Focus Extra every Wednesday.

Please visit the link that applies to you and get a 40% discount on Membership+

• For signed-in members: Upgrade to Membership+
• For new members: Get Membership+ 

Read more about Membership+ in our help centre.

Already have Membership+ but not receiving all the episodes? Go to the podcast tab on your account page to activate your subscription. 

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode you can hear a conversation that editor Emma Löfgren had recently for our My Swedish Career series with Elizabeth Wright Veintimilla, a social impact professional from Ecuador who moved to Sweden when her husband got a job here.

In the interview, Emma asks Elizabeth about her first impressions of Sweden, how she created a vibrant professional network from scratch, and what advice she would give others about moving to Sweden and making a life here. 

MY SWEDISH CAREER:

• 'You can influence the way people behave towards foreigners'
• INTERVIEW: 'You don't want me in Sweden? Yeah, sure, I don't care'
• My Swedish Career: 'Try to understand how the Swedish system works'

Become a member at https://www.thelocal.se/podcasts/podcast-offer?tpcc=padlock.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.